Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
obviouslyaard
The plot, the dialogues, and the voice acting are actually egregious. BUT WHAT AN ANIMATION.. I love mega structures and to see Carmila's castle depicted to be absolutely enormous scratched my brain really good. The gothic designs mixed with futuristic elements are amazing. They managed to draw such an imposing castle with its red, shiny tiles with spiderweb frames woven into everything. I love the machine horses, even the gothic castle ship lmao. Carmilla's plot twist at the end was needed because why wouldn't she plan that. She's the legendary vampiress. Also the ending was surprisingly sweet! I really had fun watching this.
Read at the source_Bubassotto_
Yeah, it was a pretty lukewarm experience.
I came into this expecting better animation and a better plot than the 80s version, but honestly, the only thing that really grabbed me was the updated animation. Visually, Vampire Hunter D is stunning. The art direction, the backgrounds, the character designs, and the overall gothic aesthetic really make the film stand out. It’s the kind of work where, at times, you just want to hit pause to admire the frame. The problem for me was that all this visual care wasn't matched by a story that could deliver the same impact.
I’ve always found Vampire Hunter D to be far more interesting visually than narratively. The vampire theme, while still functional, feels quite saturated and dated, especially when compared to other works that have explored the co…
Read at the sourceNecrobiose
It is 2026, and your favorite Instagram pages are likely still flooding your feed with AI-generated "Dark Fantasy" slideshows making your wettest dream wet. These accounts capitalize on a specific, grainy, gothic atmosphere because they are too lazy to actually pick up a pen. If you want to see the actual blueprint—the raw, hand-drawn data that your favorite "whimsical" 808 artists are slapping onto their album covers—look no further. Vampire Hunter D is the peak. It is the definitive achievement of dark fantasy art.
Every frame of this film serves as a reminder of what human craftsmanship can achieve. The gothic architecture, the haunting character designs by Yoshitaka Amano, and the oppressive atmosphere aren't just "vibes" you moron. While modern social media tries to mimic this aest…
Read at the sourcenomi_ya
One of the best animation and artwork I've seen in anime/movies
If you haven't watched this movie, I suggest you do it when you have the time, but don't rush it. Take your time and absorb the scenery, the visuals, the overall style.
The plot and characters aren't all bad, they just feel off and a little edgy, but I suppose that's what you should expect from this genre. There are some good fight scenes, okay soundtrack, but this movie's biggest talent is its artwork.
Immaculate vibes and some shots will leave you plainly flabbergasted.
The whole setpiece just screams Castlevania, and if you're into gothic architecture and ambience, this might be the thing for you
Read at the sourceSakamakiKoyatsu
Some may come to go watch this anime because of the main character and our protagonist, D, other may watch it for classics, beginning of millennium style of anime style, which is delivered here and promptly, or that a mild number may go watch this anime movie simply for a gothic aesthetic, many would agree that this anime is iconic. Especially, our protagonist D, gives off not only vibes of active vampirism and sovereignty over vampires, but also one that moves the imaginations with his aura as an iconic vampiresque(Vampire-like) character.
This is not a the first Vampire Hunter D movie, but it sure is the first that comes to mind, and watching it decades after release, one would like to look back at what is available at the time, and the close anime series that this move comes close to i…
Read at the sourceSFlame
Aaand I've read the manga now so I can compare how different the anime is from it. In short - the anime is very good!
Nice graphics, iconic even and seems like manga is using very similar style because of it.
Nice character design and characters themselves...tho manga is likely closer to the novels since there almost everyone are asshats, but I like anime characters much more. They are also much more complex in anime.
Nice story with the ending that leaves some questions yet answers more than what manga does. Also I like the worldbuilding here more.
No weird sex stuff at all, not even insinuations of such.
Seriously, watch the anime first, both of the movies and then read manga. And forget about the novels. Unless you are into graphic description of violence and weird sex stuff.
Only th…
Read at the sourceMiinerbah
I watched the movie because of my love for all things gothic, and it did not disappoint me. I only wish there were more Vampire Hunter D animated works, because its animation captures the gothic atmosphere so beautifully: delicate linework, androgynous and mysterious characters, gloomy settings… not to mention all the fine details. The story itself is engaging and quite moving towards the end, though I don’t want to go too deep into spoilers.
D being a dhampir is a crucial element in the plot: a creature that belongs to neither world, not to the darkness nor to humanity. His psychology and inner conflict make him incredibly compelling. As I said, I truly wish more content had been made. I know there are novels, but I’ve got friends who don’t recommend them because some scenes are rather u…
Read at the sourceHERMIT_PAIMON
Vampire Hunter D bloodlust is an amazing film with flawless animation by the best anime director Yoshiaki Kawajiri this isn't his first time directing an adaptation of a Hideyuki Kikuchi novel with his others being Wicked City 1987 and Demon City Shinjuku 1988 this being the best adaptation of one of his novels it is a Journey that is fantasticly animated from start to finish and has a amazing gothic castle near the end and has some good action scenes this is my 3rd favourite anime made by Kawajiri number 2 being Ninja Scroll 1993 and Number 1 being Cyber City Oedo 808 but yeah this is a great famtasy movie with mixes of horror and is a true vampire story a very good 10/10 it's a film worth multiple watches
Read at the sourceSekrow
When I first watched this anime back in 2019, I didn’t like it at all. I thought, “Ugh, another boring anime.” But now, watching it again after six years, I can’t believe how wrong I was. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is such an underrated gem I wish I had appreciated it back then.
The story is pretty simple a half-human, half-vampire hunter goes on a mission to rescue a girl kidnapped by a vampire. That’s it. But the way it’s told? Absolutely beautiful. The animation is stunning every frame feels alive and detailed. It’s one of those movies where you can really feel the effort and care put into every scene.
The characters also feel super real. You can sense their purpose, their struggle to keep their reputation, the pain of losing comrades, and even their moments of love and rage. It’s al…
Read at the sourceli1uzumaki
It just goes to show that there will always be some hidden masterpiece that will always be hidden that spans from this era of anime, an era where the creators actually loved what they were doing, and every inch and frame and drawing of this anime reflected that. Watching this anime is like a memory that I had when I was dreaming as a small kid; the architecture in this anime, the landscapes, just pulls you in. It's like paradise, and every moment in this anime is a moment you do not want to end. Just beautiful – the balance between action, storytelling, the mechanics and the background is so well optimised, and I can see this was well thought of.
Anime studios now should acquire content like this and blend the new art with what those anime were made of and remember back then they were li…
Read at the sourceSufferingMeguca
Ultra high powered gothic post-apocalyptic western. Absolute visual feast, looks a million dollars, some of the coolest painted backgrounds I recall seeing, the whole Castle of Chaythe sequence has some mint backdrop porn. Yoshiaki Kawajiri's extremely distinctive sharp, angular characters brood and sneer delightfully over these vistas, usually right up until they get bisected by D. The pacing is spot on for me, the film takes its time with these character or world-building vignettes but overall maintains a solid action-adventure feel. This thing oozes that earnest, self-serious 'cool' quality that we sorely need more of in these all too anxiously self aware times.
The only real criticism I'd level at the production is that it could have done with some more choreographed action, the burst…
Read at the sourceTheCompletionist
Animation can be such a wonderful medium of entertainment because as long as the effort is put into it, it will always retain the permanent ability to be timeless. What I'm often surprised in the world of animation is sometimes the most beautiful pieces of animation can come from the most unexpected of sources. This is definitely the case when it comes to Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust because even though work for the film started back in 1997, the finished product never got released until the year 2000. To this day, from my personal opinion it is still one of most beautiful animated films you'll ever watch even though it's 25 years old. It's artistic style and quality of animation certainly rivals some of the most beautiful anime films from the 1980's all the way up to the 2020's with it's b…
Read at the sourceMichaelMorbius
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a bloody tale beautifully crafted by the hand of the expert Yoshiaki Kawajiri. To accompany the brutal violence that usually accompanies this author (Ninja Scroll, Wicked City), there is an unusual but not unwelcome romanticism. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodust is the peak of gothic and noir Japanese animation. A tale of violence and love, where there is no real winner or even a hero.
Plot: 8/10 - The story is about D, half vampire half human, a bounty hunter, whose fame precedes him. In a world where vampires are close to extinction after years of war, the young Charlotte is kidnapped by the vampire Meyer Link. The young woman's father will entrust D with the task of bringing his daughter home, dead or alive. Along with the dhampir, there will also be the Markus…
Read at the sourceLuxuriousHeart
This movie reminds me of Bride of Deimos. Similar aesthetic so to speak. Which shows how tragic the adaptation for Bride of Deimos is. That OVA was a confusing mess of an adaptation. This movie was a better standalone movie. The plot was cohesive and understandable. It didn't require the manga to be read, in order to understand most of it. The art in this movie was gorgeous. I love old anime series, a time when they tried. Madhouse was a powerhouse.
The characters were good, and the romance was easy to root for. A juicy and forbidden romance is hard to resist. The designs were interesting, and Vampire D was a walking mystery. He was intriguing. This movie towed a perfect line of some mystery and unexplained things, while not being a confusing mess.
Read at the sourceRebelofDaNeonGod
The paintings of Francis Bacon, Goya, Brugel and Magritte put onto celluloid and played over the retinas of the viewer, Vampire Hunter D is bombastic, it is the first taste of fresh spring water over cracked, dry lips. If the 1985 film was a fun 80s party through torchlit halls and ramshackle villages then Bloodlust is two dancers in the dark flowing through opulent marble floors and blood soaked cobble streets.
Bloodlust holds no punches, it pummels the audience with blood and guts and viscera and gore, but each strike against the ribs is measured, precise and obliterating. 2 minutes in, the tone is already set, Yoshiaki Kawajiri has already trapped the audience into their seats. We are given a crooked and cracking city, the dingy streets are soaked in oppressive moonlight, the horizon…
Read at the sourceimmosha
Underrated movie that has aged incredibly well over the years.
The plot is nothing particularly special, the title is essentially what you get - a vampire hunter. But the magic for this movie is in the absolutely breathtaking backgrounds that are so meticulously drawn throughout. To accompany, the animation for this work is nothing short of amazing - smooth, gripping animation that keeps your eyes glued to the screen and had me audibly yelling "what the hell" when ones were being animated for a cool-as-heck sword flip of a ring. Character motivations are relatively flat and perhaps under-developed, but the visual intrigue of their backstories are choreographed and presented in chilling fashion, in a true "show don't tell", every-frame-a-painting directorial masterpiece. The settings are g…
Read at the sourceChrast
The aesthetics the story the characters, everything is a masterpiece as long as vampires, a gothic style and tragic storytelling are among your preferences. The first movie was really good but had it's weird bits, goofy disgusting or straight up annoying enemy fodder designs, a weird progression to the plot and the aged animation were very noticeable. Here everything is fixed and not just that but take to a completely new level. Cleaner designs, with much less needless techy sci-fi nonsense, enemies and all characters in general were really interesting and unique. Just an absolute masterpiece, the movie that would come out if what I and possibly many others love was put together in the best way possible.
Read at the sourceHooded-Writer
This one movie single handedly proves that if you want an amazingly well animated movie, you come to Madhouse. Granted even though it is an OVA the fact that it was released in 2000 and looks as well as it does with animation as smooth and realistic, is absolutely phenomenal and the animators deserve oh so much praise.
The score and ambience is a perfect example of dark vampire aesthetic, it is dark, bloody, gore, scary, romantic and sad at the same time and it is truly amazing and deserving of the title Vampiric and should be how most vampire movies must be made (eat your heart out Twilight).
Linking back to the ambience, it is truly amazing direction and story. Being able to switch from a graveyard, rotten monster city, desert with giant sting rays, beautiful daylight springs, rainy fo…
Read at the sourceAll_Knowing
Adapted from the Japanese novel series Vampire Hunter D created by Hideyuki Kikuchi, and later developed into Manga comics, the 1985 and 2000 films boast plenty of grit, gore and greatness. In the distant future, where fantasy mixes with the past, there live vampires and their hunters who are able to oppose the devil himself for money. In such conditions lives the half-human, half-vampire hunter D. He is the best at what he does. He is commissioned to find Charlotte, alive or dead, kidnapped by a vampire named Meier. In this task, he has competition in the form of the Markus family, talented vampire hunters who rely on advanced techniques and not, like D, on traditional fighting. Finding and defeating Meier is not an easy task, because various fairy-tale creatures await the hunters, ready…
Read at the sourceDeus-Arcanum
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a 2000 dark fantasy, vampire adventure film produced by Madhouse. Yoshiaki Kawajiri did pretty much everything for this movie, writing, directing, and storyboarding. Yutaka Minowa was in charge of character design, Yuji Ikehata took care of the art direction and setting design and Marco D'Ambrosio composed the music. The film is based on "Demon Deathchase," the third novel in Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D series.
Story:
The story of a vampire hunter named D, who is hired to rescue a young woman named Charlotte, who has been kidnapped by a powerful vampire named Meier Link. But it's not just a simple rescue mission. Along the way, D faces all kinds of wild challenges, from other hunters who are also after Meier for their own reasons. And as the story u…
Read at the source
